Shadowheart

January 29, 2007
While juggling a complex epic fantasy plot may be child's play for veteran word-wizard Williams (Otherland
), the bewildered star players of the fine second volume in his Shadowmarch trilogy must deal with a very adult world being transformed by war, magic, secrets and a weird, powerful scrying-mirror. Back in Southmarch, Hendon Tolly has usurped the throne, while King Olin's held in captivity in Hierosol. Olin's young twins, Princess Briony and Prince Barrick Eddon, struggle to survive in exile on separate but equally perilous paths. Barrick's trapped behind the Shadowline with Capt. Ferras Vansen; Gyir the Storm Lantern, a formidable, faceless fairy; and Skurn, a quirky talking raven. Briony's helped by a forest demigoddess and winds up with a band of endangered traveling thespians. Though the pace lags at times, bestseller Williams once again delivers a sweeping spellbinder full of mystical wonder. Author tour.

Starred review from October 4, 2004
In the impressive opening installment of his first new high fantasy trilogy in a decade, Williams (the Memory, Sorrow and Thorn trilogy) injects hope and humor into an end-of-the-world conflict that pits "the strange, pagan Qar," a race of fairy folk, against the humans who forced them behind the Shadowline (the line of demarcation between the Qar and the human lands) and claimed their ancient stronghold of Southmarch (aka Shadowmarch) on the continent of Eion. The March kingdoms, whose ruler, King Olin, is held captive by the empire of Hierosol's Lord Drakava, are in turmoil after the assassination of Prince Regent Kendrick, whose twin siblings, Briony and Barrick, must struggle to keep their domain together. Soon after the fairy war begins, the Qar dump a mysterious boy beyond the Shadowline, where he's discovered by Chertz Blue Quartz, a little "Funderling," whose stone-working people live beneath Southmarch. Packed with intriguing plot twists, this surreal fantasy takes the reader on a thrill ride from a haunted wood where madness dwells and the sun never rises, to drafty castles and adventures deep underground. Much of the imagery seems inspired by Arthur Rackham with a hint of Edvard Munch. The author's richly detailed world will enchant established fans and win new converts. Agent, Matt Bialer. (Nov. 2)

FYI:
Williams's most recent novel is a stand-alone fantasy,
The War of the Flowers (Forecasts, Apr. 28, 2003).

December 1, 2010
The conclusion of Williams four-volume saga opens with an array of creatures converging on Southmarch: the Funderlings from below, the Qar from in front, traitors to King Olin from within, and the autarch of Xis from overseas. Prince Barrick struggles to retain his sanity after accepting the powers of the Qar king; King Olin, a captive of the autarch, does his best to slay his captor before that mad monarch can carry out his plan to challenge the gods; and Princess Briony is still with Prince Eneas, who brought an allied army to Southmarch. The plot springs from climax to climax as intrigues and secrets are unwound and revealed. The greatest danger is the autarchs folly, for in seeking to become a god he arouses Zosim the Trickster, a highly destructive deity. Zosim is defeated at great cost, but the bloody messes he leaves require an immense tidy-up. Anyone who has read the first three novels should have no trouble following the multiple characters and shifting viewpoints. For those who have not, a synopsis is provided. The pacing is noteworthy, and with so many characters, naturally the quality varies; but the best drawn are well done. High-Demand Backstory: The previous volumes in the series have been best-sellers, and with eager reader anticipation of the concluding volume, publisher push will be made obvious.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2010, American Library Association.)